Get It Procured

I didn’t exactly grow up wanting to work in procurement. To be honest, I didn’t even know what procurement was until I was in it. (Spoiler: it’s not just bulk-buying paperclips.)

But the deeper I got, the more I realised this job is packed with real-life skills that no one teaches you in school; things that actually matter.

Here’s what procurement taught me that school never did:

1. Negotiation is everything
In school, the closest we got to negotiating was trading snacks at lunch. But in real life? Being able to ask for what you want, and hold your ground, is a game-changer. Whether it’s getting a better deal, setting boundaries, or even asking for a raise, negotiation isn’t just for business. It’s life 101.

2. People skills > technical skills
Procurement is all about people: suppliers, stakeholders, internal politics. You can know all the theories in the world, but if you don’t know how to communicate, listen, and build trust, you’ll get nowhere. 

3. Think long-term, not just cheapest
The lowest price isn’t always the best deal. Sometimes it’s about quality, consistency, or values. That applies to life, too; not everything is about saving money. Sometimes it’s worth investing in the right thing, even if it costs more upfront.

4. Process matters (but don’t get stuck in it)
Procurement is full of frameworks and policies. They matter. But they’re also not everything. Knowing when to stick to the rulebook and when to get creative is a skill I wish we had been taught earlier.

5. You can’t control everything — but you can manage risk
Nothing ever goes fully to plan. Suppliers drop out. Prices spike. But instead of panicking, procurement teaches you to plan for the unknown and keep things moving. Honestly? That’s a life skill.

So yeah; procurement might not be the sexiest job title, but it’s taught me more about life, money, people, and resilience than any classroom ever did.

And now, I find myself applying those lessons outside work; in my side hustle, my finances, my relationships.

Who knew?